The Malian army on Monday denied reports that it freed around 200 suspected jihadists in mid‑March to secure safe passage for fuel convoys. Security and political sources had earlier suggested such a deal was struck, including a truce lasting until the Muslim festival of Tabaski in late May.
Army spokesman Souleymane Dembele dismissed the claims as “pure manipulation,” saying they were intended to tarnish Mali’s image and undermine trust in its institutions.
Since September, Al‑Qaeda affiliate JNIM has repeatedly attacked tanker convoys, crippling Bamako’s fuel supply and sparking a diesel shortage earlier this month. Reports of a mid‑March deal coincided with improved fuel deliveries, though several of the freed suspects have since died, according to community representatives.
Mali has faced a deep security crisis since 2012, marked by jihadist violence, separatist movements, and criminal gangs.
